This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of deploy, configure, and maintain systems. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO commands can be used to display the current SELinux mode?
sestatus
sestatus provides detailed SELinux status including current mode.
getenforce
getenforce displays whether SELinux is enforcing, permissive, or disabled.
checkmodule
Why wrong: checkmodule compiles SELinux policy modules, unrelated to showing mode.
seinfo
Why wrong: seinfo displays SELinux policy statistics, not current mode.
setenforce
Why wrong: setenforce changes the SELinux mode, it does not display it.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
sestatus
The `sestatus` command displays the current SELinux mode (enforcing, permissive, or disabled) along with other SELinux status information. The `getenforce` command specifically returns only the current SELinux mode as a string (Enforcing, Permissive, or Disabled). Both are standard tools for checking the SELinux operational state.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
sestatus
Why this is correct
sestatus provides detailed SELinux status including current mode.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
getenforce
Why this is correct
getenforce displays whether SELinux is enforcing, permissive, or disabled.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
checkmodule
Why it's wrong here
checkmodule compiles SELinux policy modules, unrelated to showing mode.
seinfo
Why it's wrong here
seinfo displays SELinux policy statistics, not current mode.
setenforce
Why it's wrong here
setenforce changes the SELinux mode, it does not display it.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `setenforce` (which changes the mode) with `getenforce` (which displays the mode), or assume `seinfo` or `checkmodule` are status-checking tools when they are actually policy analysis and compilation utilities.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
checkmodule compiles SELinux policy modules, unrelated to showing mode.
Detailed technical explanation
SELinux modes are stored in the kernel and can be checked via the `/sys/fs/selinux/enforce` file (0 for permissive, 1 for enforcing) or the `selinuxfs` pseudo-filesystem. The `getenforce` command reads this file directly, while `sestatus` reads both the kernel state and the configuration file `/etc/selinux/config` to report the configured and current modes. In a real-world scenario, after a system boot, `sestatus` can show a mismatch between the configured mode and the current mode if the kernel boot parameter `enforcing=0` was used.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the EX200 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — This question tests Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: sestatus — The `sestatus` command displays the current SELinux mode (enforcing, permissive, or disabled) along with other SELinux status information. The `getenforce` command specifically returns only the current SELinux mode as a string (Enforcing, Permissive, or Disabled). Both are standard tools for checking the SELinux operational state.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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